CINDERFORD Town Football Club has teamed up with the Children’s Opportunity Centre to help the Coleford-based charity fund much-needed renovations.

The centre supports children with special needs and their families but its premises in Bowens Hill Road are more than 25 years old and more modern facilities are needed.

The Causeway-based football club has offered its facilities for fund-raisers for the Opportunity Centre which has been supporting youngsters and their families for more than 30 years.

The Southern League club’s commercial manager, Paul Willetts, said: “The idea of Cinderford Town FC and the Children’s Opportunity Centre in Coleford joining forces is for Cinderford Town Football Club to provide facilities to help the Opportunity Centre raise much needed funds.

“We have excellent facilities here at the Causeway Ground with not only the pitch where we will look to have All Star games but also the clubhouse where we can have live music events, sportsman’s dinners etc and we are happy to make these available to them.

“Together we hope to build a long-lasting relationship — we are also very proud to be associated with the Children’s Opportunity Centre, their staff and children.”

The current centre was built in 1994 and does not have modern facilities such as ceiling track hoists and automated doors.

The centre currently helps several families reunite through contact sessions and the plan is to provide a comfortable and bright space to share time together.

Staff at the centre are recognised for their wealth of knowledge and experience so teaching space is another vital tool.

The centre offers workshops in sleep, behaviour, toileting and baby massage — and it receives many referrals from NHS professionals.

The centre receives no government funding and relies on grants and fund-raising to continue providing its vital services for local families.